Have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Learn how to make key business decisions by enrolling in an Oakton Community College adult education class. What You Should Know Before You Start a Business covers topics including whether to form a corporation or limited liability company; the pros and cons of having partners; and how to reduce personal liability risk. By Oakton Community College, www.dailyherald.com The one-week course first meets 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Aug….

When she graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business in 2007, Jess Lively already had eight years of entrepreneurship under her belt, having started her own online jewelry business at age 15. Rather than launch a corporate career, Lively decided to run her jewelry company full-time. By: Teddy Nykiel, NerdWallet, www.usatoday.com Lively is part of a growing group of college graduates who skip job applications in favor of starting a business once they earn their…

5 Digital Tools and Resources for Creative Entrepreneurs Digital tools to help creative entrepreneurs market and sell their products by Kandia Johnson Whether you’re an artist, fashion designer, photographer, or handmade crafter, when it comes to the work of creative entrepreneurs it’s super important to use digital tools that help them market and sell their work. Experts say that for online marketplaces that help creative entrepreneurs curate and sell their unique goods and services, visual appeal…

This summer Google launched Google My Business, a platform for businesses to manage their presence across Google applications, including search and Google+. The new platform is just one more example of Google’s drive to embrace entrepreneurs and emerging businesses. Here is a list of Google tools and resources to help entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. There are resources for startup ventures, small businesses, and solo entrepreneurs. Google My Business Google My Business is a platform for…

Of the infinite resources available on the Internet, there is still nothing better than free. So in light of Independence Day and the sense of freedom it exudes, below are 12 (mostly) free tools that can help build your business: 1. 1M/1M offers access to the extensive startup network and collective knowledge in Silicon Valley to entrepreneurs everywhere. I know, crazy. But this is a truly interesting source for “starter uppers” to talk about branding, positioning,…

Being an entrepreneur can be difficult. Being an entrepreneur attempting to launch a startup is even more challenging. The good news? You don’t have to go it alone. There are a lot of tools and resources at your fingertips online to help you successfully plan, launch and run your business. And, here are 200 of those essential tools and resources. A/B tests. A/B testing your website will be crucial to your continued success and improvements online. A startup should…

This is a very short list, as there are thousands of products and tools out there for startups, but here are some I’ve found to be useful. www.entrepreneur.com 1. Startup Stash A curated directory of resources and tools to help you build your startup. This is a good starting point. 2. Square Space Logo Use this for basic logos done instantly. It’s helpful during hackathons or Startup Weekends. I created my mom’s startup logo here. Yes,…

The following tools and resources are ones you’ll definitely want to have on hand when you’re ready to build your business. From huge curated directories to backup software to keep your company safe, these resources will help your business launch successfully and keep going strong into 2015 and beyond. 1. Startup Stash Ever wish that somebody would take every useful small business tool and software system out there and put them into one clearly organized page? Look…

THREE STRATEGIES FOR SCALING YOUR STARTUP SUSTAINABLY STARTUPS FLUSH WITH NEW FUNDING CAN FALL VICTIM TO THEIR OWN RAPID GROWTH. HERE’S HOW TO AVOID THAT. BY JONHA REVESENCIO Congratulations! You’ve finally secured series A financing. Closing that first round of funding is a big step for any startup and something to be excited about. Now comes the next step—deciding what to do with that new capital. You know what not to do, but what positive steps…